Syed Talib
Updated on: October 11, 2024 10:53 am GMT
AC Milan is determined to secure its first win of the Serie A season as they face Venezia at San Siro this Sunday, September 14, 2024. After a challenging start, the Rossoneri are looking to turn their fortunes around against a team that has struggled to find its footing in the top flight.
Current Form of AC Milan
Despite being one of Italy’s most successful clubs, AC Milan has had a rocky beginning to their campaign. With three matches played and no victories to their name, the team’s performance has drawn scrutiny. In their last match, AC Milan found themselves held to a 2-2 draw against Lazio. They initially took the lead through Strahinja Pavlovic but were unable to maintain their advantage, necessitating a last-minute equalizer from Rafael Leao.
The defensive issues have been particularly concerning for head coach Paulo Fonseca. The team has displayed significant vulnerabilities at the back, which have contributed to their lack of consistency. The coaching staff has been actively seeking solutions, with various lineup changes expected against Venezia.
Venezia’s Struggles
Venezia, now back in Serie A following promotion, faces its own difficulties this season. The team has not yet won a match and currently sits at the bottom of the standings with just one goal scored in their first three outings. Their most recent game ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Torino, where they struggled to convert opportunities into goals.
Venezia’s challenges highlight a broader trend among newly promoted teams, who often struggle to adapt to the heightened intensity and quality of top-flight football. While they possess the potential to improve as the season progresses, time is of the essence for a team that looks to avoid relegation.
Head-to-Head Record
Historically, AC Milan has had the upper hand in matchups against Venezia, boasting a record of six wins and one draw in their previous encounters. The Rossoneri won both fixtures when the teams last met during the 2021-22 season, triumphing 2-0 at home and 3-0 in the away fixture. This history contributes to the current odds, with AC Milan being heavily favored to secure a victory in this match.
Team Updates and Predictions
In terms of team news, AC Milan will be without several key players due to injuries, including Alvaro Morata and Alessandro Florenzi. Additionally, Malick Thiaw’s recovery is yet to be confirmed, while Fikayo Tomori and Davide Calabria also face fitness issues. However, Tammy Abraham is expected to debut in the starting lineup after demonstrating promise in his previous appearance.
The expected lineup for AC Milan includes:
- Maignan
- Emerson Royal
- Gabbia
- Pavlovic
- Theo Hernandez
- Youssouf Fofana
- Reijnders
- Pulisic
- Loftus-Cheek
- Leao
- Abraham
Venezia will also be making adjustments to their lineup in an attempt to improve their performance. The likely starting XI features:
- Joronen
- Idzes
- Svoboda
- Sverko
- Candela
- Duncan
- Nicolussi Caviglia
- Zampano
- Oristanio
- Busio
- Pohjanpalo
Betting odds reflect AC Milan’s status as strong favorites, sitting at 2/7 for a home victory, while Venezia’s chances are considerably longer at 9/1. A draw is priced at 5/2, capturing the uncertainty that often accompanies such matchups.
Strategies for Success
AC Milan’s strategy will likely focus on exploiting Venezia’s defensive weaknesses while ensuring a more robust defensive performance themselves. The team has previously shown the capability to win to nil against Venezia, with odds currently set at 11/10 for another shutout.
Given that AC Milan has been dominant during previous encounters, they could aim to score in both halves, which carries odds of 5/6. Additionally, the odds for AC Milan to win both halves stand at 8/5, indicating a strong belief among analysts that the home side will assert its dominance throughout the match.
Match Details
The match between AC Milan and Venezia is set to kick off at 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT) at the iconic San Siro stadium. Fans and analysts alike are eager to witness whether AC Milan can finally secure their first win of the season or if Venezia can achieve a much-needed upset.
As the teams get ready to play, everyone will be watching important players like Tammy Abraham from AC Milan and Gianluca Busio from Venezia. How they play in this game could really change what happens for both teams for the rest of the season.
